Improvement in pruning-shears



W. BAKER.

.Pruning Shears.. A No. 142,886. PatentedSeptemberl''873..

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER BAKER, OF ILION, ASSIGNOR TO THE BIDDLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRuNlNe-SHEARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,886, dated September 16, 1873; application filed I March 24,V 1873.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it 'known that I, WALTER BAKER, of Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented an Improved Pruning-Shears, of which the following is a speciiication;

Figure 1 is a face view, partly in section, of my improved pruning-shears Fig. 2, a detail face view of the cutting-blade; Fig. 3, a detail longitudinal section on the line C O, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a detail face view of the hook-shaped cutting-blade; and Fig. 5, a detail face view of tie shank to which the cutting-blade is pivote Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a new instrument for priming trees, shrubs, Sac., but which can also be used for other purposes; and the nvention consists chiey in such a manner of connecting the cutting-blade with the handles of the shears that it will not perform a plain vibrating motion, but a double play partly around its own pivot and partly around the pivot of the jaws or handles, so that it will produce a drawing cut, every portion of which will obtain the same amount of leverage as every other portion of the cutting motion. The cutting-blade is pivoted between an arm or shank projecting from one of the shear-handles, and has its lower end notched to straddle a pin that projects from the other sh ear-handle, so that by being held on such pin it will be caused to swing on its own pivot, while, at the same time, it follows around the pivot of the shears during the vibrations of the handle.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents one of the handles of the shears, and B the other handle of the same, a being the pivot by which the two are connected. From the handle B projects an ear or shank, b, in which the pivot d of theA cutting-blade O has its support. This cutting-blade is of the form substantially as shown in Fig. 2, and has, at its lower or inner end, a notch cut into it at e. From the handle A `projects a hookshaped jaw, f, under the cutting-edge of the blade C, said hook being clearly shown in Fig. 4. A pin, g, projects from the lower or inner part of this hook and enters the notch e of the blade C, so that in vibrating the handles and causing them to swing on the pivot a, the blade C, being connected with said pin g, will be independently vibrated on its own pivot, b, thus producing the desired drawing cut on and over the edge of the hook f. The inner concave edge of this hook constitutes the secondary or female cutting-edge of the shears, the convex edge of the blade O being the main or male cutter. h h are two springs, which are attached, at their lower ends, to the inner sides of the handles A B, their free ends bearing against each other, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of throwing1 the handles apart and opening the shears automatically. This will facilitate their operation, as it will relieve the attendant from the labor of opening the shears after each stroke or cut. To the lower part of one of the handles is pivoted a hook, fi, catching over a pin, j, that is attached to the lower part of the other handle, and serving, when hooked over said pin, to hold the shears closed in manner shown in Fig. l. For transportation, and also for putting the shears away, this means for closing the same will be convenient and advantageous.

I claiml l. The cutting-blade C, connected, by an independent pivot, d., to one of the handles of the shears, and, by a pin, g, with the other handle, to obtain an independent drawing cut, as specified.

2. The combination of the handles A B and pivot a with the blade C, pivot d, hook f, and pin g, all arranged to operate as set forth.

WALTER BAKER.

Witnesses:

Tnos. RICHARDSON, F. G. SHEPARD. 

